G. Potter
SUNY Albany, NY, USA
Many sensors, such as flow sensors and those used in medical diagnostics, rely on microfluidic devices. However, mixing and pumping fluids becomes challenging because of the small size of these devices. As an alternative to traditional actuation methods, surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can be used to create fluid streaming. Through a collaboration between SUNY Albany and SEMATECH, researchers have modeled and simulated a configuration of interdigitated transducers (IDTs), along with the piezoelectric substrate configuration and harmonic vibrations that generate SAWs. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, they studied the factors that affect the optimization of the device geometry, such as the acoustic streaming response and resonant frequency. Using their simulation results, they have confirmed that SAWs with greater vertical displacements have higher streaming velocities, and have correlated their results to experimental measurements.
Suggested Stories
Numerical Simulation-Based Topology Optimization Leads to Better Cooling of Electronic Components in Toyota Hybrid Vehicles
The Toyota Research Institute in Ann Arbor drives cutting-edge research in energy efficiency, mobility infrastructure, ...
Modeling Helps Improve Safety in the Production of Teflon
BAM German Federal Institute for Materials Research & Testing in Berlin promotes industrial development by ...
Multiphysics Protects Wind Turbines when Lightning Strikes
Lightning Technologies, an NTS company, is a world leader in the design and validation of sophisticated lightning ...
Man-Made Stars: Evaluating Structural Integrity in High-Performance Nuclear Fusion Machines for Power Generation
For over 50 years, power generation through nuclear fusion has been the focus of international research efforts to ...
